How to travel well on a budget

Travel is so much more accessible than it used to be, thanks to low cost airlines and the internet. I didn't set foot on a plane until I was 15, but since then I’ve been to many corners of the world. Trips have ranged from bargain basement package deals to adventure tours, from 18–30s to solo roaming, family holidays to business trips. Each one was an experience I’ll never forget. On my last jaunt, I came up with my personal tips for travelling well whatever your budget or destination:

Always take sunscreen

With a few exceptions (Iceland), most places I’ve visited were warmer than the UK. It’s a no-brainer to slather on Factor 30 on a beach holiday, but you get plenty of sun exposure walking round cities and it sometimes doesn’t register until too late. Pack sunscreen so you don’t have to waste time on your trip hunting down pharmacies and over-paying for expensive creams out of desperation. Prevention is always better than cure (I still wince remembering the ‘3rd degree’ sunburn someone got in Australia, ouch)!

Starbucks is a saviour

Ok yes, it’s a big chain that makes all our high streets look the same, the coffee isn’t to everyone’s taste and at home you may prefer to find independents. But the free wifi and plentiful plug sockets were a godsend when I travelled with a poor data…